I didn’t see much of it. I am thinking Plex should be what he is, a poor man’s Datsyuk. Let him be a defensive centre and put AK on his side. If Cole is to play with him it’d be a new role for which IMHHO would mean less points production. Habs need a power forward #1 centre for Cole. However, the Habs have options and that line could click. But it didn’t much tonight.

b) seeing where the D was with Yemelin, Weber, Diaz and Tinordi;

Yemelin skated well and looked good. Made some crisp passes. Weber too. Diaz not so much. Tinordi will make the NHL guaranteed but give him time to develop properly. He held his own out there and never looked out of place. Gill on the other hand…

c) seeing if Carey Price would be in form;

I am chill.

d) seeing who among the slotted regulars would live up to the billing;

Desharnais looks like he better watch his back because I sense a Trotter galloping fast to catch up on him.

e) seeing who among the other Hamilton bound players had a shot;

apart from Trotter not much. Although, apart from his appearances in the face-off circle I liked Engqvist. Habs need a face-off coach. Palushaj looks like he’s a career AHLer.

The only two D that have a shot at this roster is #8 Woywitka and 74 Yemelin. Dias will be a star for Hamilton this year.

Up front, I did not see a new top 12 player that will make the roster, except for Cole of coarse. Hamilton will be a team to reckon with in the AHL this year.

Disappointed in Price’s effort tonight. Along with a few other vets that are just pacing themselves. Plekanec can not win a face off yet, and he gets thrown out 50%. I know it is early and just pond hockey right now, BUT

Solid performance by Blues’ Madd Dagger tonight with a goal, 4 shots, and one of his patented breakaways. Backes and Langenbrunner each with a pair of helpers, and G Brian Elliot earning a splendid 9.55 sv% throughout.

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“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Psalms 82:1-2

I call BS on that. You came here EXACTLY to rehash a (one YEAR old) goalie debate, just like you do every time. Now don’t just fade back into the shadows like you usually do, answer SF09’s arguments like a big boy.

I just can’t believe that he is that tall. I know he plays hunched over a lot.. even photos of him off the ice, standing by other players.. I dont get it.. They said tonight he was 6’5. O’Byrne was 6’5, and Tinordi doesn’t look as big as OB was.

He’s shown a lot of willingness to engage physically at the lower levels and in the scrimmages, found his positional game was generally fine and that’s one of my top considerations for a D, does he know where to go.

There were two guys to watch tonight. The only two likely additions to the roster. Cole was as advertised. He used his speed. He used his body. He showed some very cool puck sense, with lots of nice little touch passes. And he potted one. What more could we ask? (OK, the chemistry with Plekanec and Cammalleri is a work in progress.)

Yemelin looks to me like he is going to be a third pair starter. Despite a few nervous looking fumbles, I thought he looked far more effective as a puck handler and mover than advertised. And he delivered the much-anticipated hit at the end of the game.

well after 1 preseason game, I’m worried about our D.
if Markov doesn’t play much, habs D is actually worse than last year.
Diaz and Yemelin= not aa good as Hamrlik and Wisznewski.
we still need more toughness, and need another center who can win faceoffs.

Yemelin was even more impressive than I thought he would be. Positioning issues plague his game, but that was to be expected. Heck, I thought it would take him forty games to take a top four spot; after tonight, I’m optimistic that it will take far less time for him to move up.

After seeing him in the KHL for about ten games, I though that his puck handling skills and outlet passes were very weak, but he looked like a competent two-way defenceman tonight; I hope that he keeps it up.

Diaz looked poor. I didn’t expect much, and he didn’t provide much. To me, he looked small every shift. Good with the puck; atrocious without it.

Andrei Kostitsyn was “on” again tonight. If he keeps playing like this, he’ll force Martin to put him into the top six. I hope that his demotion last year prodded him in the right direction.

Not much of a game, but interesting for the young guys. Diaz has potential, and I liked both Emelin and Yemilin (the twins).
Lots of nerves though – I think it’ll be interesting to see a few more of these expensive practices.

- Tinordi showing some growth over last year, but the OHL is still the place for him.
– Trotter clearly grew with a year from the KHL.
– Palushaj, kid seems to be afraid of contact, one thing if you’re losing your battles, he is avoiding them.
– Yemelin’s an NHL-ready defencemen in this man’s opinion.
– Diaz will need to hang around in the Hammer for a bit.
– Extremely pleased Cole blends with Cammalleri and Plekanec, whether we want to admit or not we need that line to work out if we want a strong season.

Palushaj is NOT NHL ready, and i don’t think he will be anytime soon, I cant remember the last time i saw a player with so much contact aversion. Not to mention with galagher, astvin and a few other youngsters that show more talent without the fear, he’s not looking too good.

Signing in from Hollywood Florida. Just moved here from Carolina. Will I be able to pick up Center Ice on cable in south Florida? Anyone see a scumbag wearing a Canadiens jersey signed by Muller and Dryden it belongs to me stolen from my car during game 1 against Boston last year. Bless Muller for agreeing to sign a new jersey for me.

My friend already bought tics for panther hab game this season. I get chills everytime I go there hearing the crowd sing along louder to the Canadian anthem to the US. Quite moving. A panthers game is a home away from home

I’m trying to decide if Weber is turning over the puck a lot because he is making risky plays, or if it’s just a side effect of all the ice time he’s getting. But it seems to me I am hearing Weber and revirement together a lot tonight.

I write this during the midpoint of the second period, as both teams are warming up their backup goaltenders.

The Cammalleri-Plekanec-Cole line is dominant, but so is the Ryder-Ribeiro-Morrow line. It’s not hard to see that there is still quite a jump between Junior Major and AHL players and established NHL’ers.

All the players that we fall in love with during the summer and early training camp and hope they can be a pleasant surprise during the season (Brock Trotter, Mike Blunden, Alain Berger) are all showing a need for seasoning in the minors. Aaron Palushaj isn’t remarkable. Jared Tinordi is as advertised, a safe keep-it-simple defenceman.

Andrei Kostistsyn’s eruption in the second period will not serve to sate the appetite of Canadiens’s fans. If anything, it will only increase the pressure on him to maintain that superior level of performance.

Ian Schultz’s fight with Mr. Wathier is the kind of nonsense that could easily be eliminated from the game of hockey.

Yanick Weber and Raphael Diaz are an intriguing defence pairing, like candy for hypoglycemic Montreal fans. Weber is creative but can make mistakes, but has shown the mobility to minimize the damage when he goofs.

i hope that when the coach told yemelin to take it a little easy on his own players with those big hits , i hope yemelin didn’t misunderstand and think he can’t lay out anyone on any other team now! Martin better not cramp his style!

Guys you have to stop replying to the troll. Attention seeking internet trolls are looking for replies so they can feel they are noticed. The guy types the stupidest thing I read all day and gets 100 replies. Intelligent comments get ignored. Ignore the trolls, after a few unanswerde comments, they go away and we don’t have to scroll thru their crap to read something interesting.

First, I don’t know what an internet troll is. Second I don’t care. I have always loved the habs if that’s what you are doubting, just not price, gilmour, gill, komisarek, ak, sk. Don’t worry, it’s ok, it happens.

You are new… we get it. sit tight enjoy your team..BTW the whole Carey sucks thing was sooooooo last year. I drove the bus..am now reformed due to #31 making me eat my words. If #31 was here right now he’d tell you to “chill out”, but like I said before that was sooooooo lastyear.

Quite the competition coming for the one available d spot. Gotta like the size of Woywitka. Diaz and Yemilin are also playing well for their first time in the NHL. Really like the speed of Trotter as well.

I forgot price comments only welcome here if they are good. Forgive me. Only your price nut hugging counts. I’ll love him too. Sign him for the 6million he is a lock for next season! Them habs will win a cup.

Living in Florida and working late I’ve watched hab games on my iPhone. Tonight? Total scrap. Most useless app ever. Justintv is the biggest scrap fraud ever. Why can I not win the lotto and leave this sunny state!!!! God please, help me back to Quebec and poutine central. Egad

you are absolutely right! everything Price did for the team last season isnt even close to enough to make up for his play in the first pre-season game. to hell with the regular season and play-offs, he needs to forget about those games and just focus on the all important pre-season games!! shame on him!!

Dude!!!! I asked you not to ruin this for me, and now…….you guessed it….ruined. Here’s the plan….take a rotten tomato, smash it your face, take the juices and write #31 on the wall. Take a picture of the Stanley cup and tape it to the wall beside tomato juice #31. Leave on wall for next 9 months. After 9 months you will realize how stupid your posts are tonight.